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4.4
37 reviews
Ancient & Modern Japan - Exodus Travels

Ancient & Modern Japan

14 days
4.4
(37)
From Kyoto to Tokyo
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travels
Max group size:
16
Age range:
16 to 99
Operated in:
English
Tour id:
33210
From
US $6,340
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Plan your adventure:
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Highlights

  • Enjoy the atmospheric Kyoto
  • Feed deers in Nara Koen Park
  • visit Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima
  • Explore Takayama's morning market

Itinerary

Start in Kyoto and end in Tokyo! With the In-depth Cultural tour Ancient & Modern Japan, you have a 14 days tour package taking you through Kyoto, Japan and 10 other destinations in Japan. Ancient & Modern Japan includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more.
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  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Start Kyoto
  2. Day 2 Visit Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Ryoan-ji temple
  3. Day 3 Day trip to Nara, ancient capital of Japan. Visit impressive Unesco temples including Todai-ji. Return to Kyoto; visit Fushimi Inari Taisha and visit historic Gion
  4. Day 4 Free day in Kyoto; relax in one of the many Zen gardens, walk the popular Philosopher’s Path or experience a traditional tea ceremony
  5. Day 5 Day trip to Hiroshima; visit Peace Memorial Park and the pretty island of Miyajima
  6. Day 6 Travel from Kyoto to Takayama, a traditional old town set amid the Japanese Alps; visit the Hida Folk Village (dinner)
  7. Day 7 Orientation tour in Takayama and free day to explore the peaceful shrines and temples (breakfast,dinner)
  8. Day 8 On to the medieval village of Tsumago; short leisurely walk on the Nakasendo trail; train to Matsumoto (breakfast)
  9. Day 9 Visit Matsumoto Castle and travel by train to the spa town of Yudanaka; soak in a hot spring (breakfast,dinner)
  10. Day 10 See the much-loved snow monkeys before travelling by train to Tokyo; evening orientation tour (breakfast)
  11. Day 11 Optional trip to Hakone or to the lovely seaside town of Kamakura (breakfast)
  12. Day 12 A full-day city tour of Tokyo, including the Senso-ji Temple (breakfast)
  13. Day 13 Free day for further exploration; optional karaoke farewell night (breakfast)
  14. Day 14 End Tokyo (breakfast)
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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Hotel

Customer Photos

Operated by Exodus Travels

4.4
(13238)
Gold

For almost 50 years Exodus has been a pioneer of active small group adventure tourism that gives back to the communities they visit through sustainable guided and self-guided tours, ranging from Responsible Wildlife to Walking and Trekking, Cycling, Cultural, Family and Polar adventures to 90+ countries worldwide. Winner of the 2021 National Geographic Reader Awards for The Operator, 2021 Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, 2021 USA Today Awards, 2020 British Travel Awards and 2019 National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards they have a vast range of trips across seven continents. Their award-winning local guides have hosted over 250,000+ travellers on adventures across the globe. Whether it is solo travellers, couples, groups or families, Exodus offers an incredible choice of trips for all ages and activity levels. Operating in 90+ countries with 500+ tours, Exodus insists on low impact tourism and contributing to local communities through their registered non-profit The Exodus Travels Foundation. Exodus understands the importance of regenerative travel, now more than ever. Their recent Rewilding initiative guarantees that for every person who travels with them, they rewild 100 sq metres. Exodus is dedicated to creating incredible adventures that are run responsibly, so as the world reopens, travellers can continue to book and travel with confidence. Do we also care about the communities and environments we go to visit? Exodus has always been and will always be a responsible tour operator. It is in our DNA to work hard to look after what we so prize. We work closely with all our overseas partners to run our tours in the best possible ways, we train our leaders, we actively seek out specific projects so that we can make a real practical difference on the ground. But please do not just take our word for it. We have won several awards and we ask you, our clients, to check what we do on the ground so that we can make improvements where needed. Why do we do all this? Quite simply we love the places we go and we love sharing those great experiences with like minded people.

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Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.3
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Food
    Excellent
    4.5
  • 4.4
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • D
    · April 7th, 2023
    What an adventure of a lifetime! Kohei Nishido’s genuinely kind, responsive, flexible, and insightful nature made our travel encounters with Japan profoundly life changing. With his heartwarming ability to intertwine the customs and culture of the... Show more
    Exodus Travels commented on this review
    We would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to post a review of your experience on our Ancient & Modern Japan tour and we are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your adventure. We were especially happy to hear that you found this trip life... Show more
    Ancient & Modern Japan customer review photo 1Ancient & Modern Japan customer review photo 2Ancient & Modern Japan customer review photo 3Ancient & Modern Japan customer review photo 4Ancient & Modern Japan customer review photo 5Ancient & Modern Japan customer review photo 6
    Trip date: March 2023
  • OM
    · May 6th, 2019
    The positive: The tour covered a large number of very beautiful and interesting places and provided a rich overview of both classic and modern Japan. As such the tour fulfills the promise of its title and description. Most of the members of our 14... Show more
    Trip date: March 2019
  • SH
    · March 30th, 2019
    The tour covered most of the things I wished to see in Japan and more. Ayaka was brilliant taking us to various destinations on trains, buses, a ferry and the metro in Tokyo without losing any of us. Our trip to Mount Fuji was superb. The rain stopped... Show more
    Trip date: March 2019
  • ND
    · December 9th, 2018
    The itinerary was packed full but this allowed us to see so much around Japan in a short period of time. Lots of walking and use of public transport but that was apart of the fun. Our tour leader Yōko was sweet, organised and helpful in any situation.... Show more
    Trip date: November 2018
  • LJ
    · June 5th, 2017
    My tour of Modern and Ancient Japan was amazing. Great communications, coordination, accommodations, and tour guide that was exceptional!
    Trip date: May 2017
  • LJ
    · June 5th, 2017
    My tour of Japan for 16 days was all and more than I expected. Communications was excellent, coordination and actual program was wonderful. Our tour guide was not only personable, but professional, competent, and very supportive.
    Trip date: May 2017
  • A
    · January 3rd, 2013
    This trip was a great mix of guided time and time (with planning assistance) to do our own thing. We got to see an enormous range of places and the use of public transport meant we got comfortable and confident with getting ourselves around very... Show more
    Review collected by Exodus Travels
  • A
    · January 2nd, 2013
    The Ancient and Modern Japan trip exceeded our expectations. The balance between urban and more rural life was excellent as was the travel on local transit and the free time to explore on our own. Both guides (Catherine and Alexi) were outstanding.What... Show more
    Review collected by Exodus Travels
  • A
    · September 2nd, 2012
    A really fantastic trip covering many varied aspects of Japan, with so many opportunities to learn about the country and culture as every day was fascinating. I left with so many amazing memories.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?There... Show more
    Review collected by Exodus Travels
  • A
    · May 15th, 2012
    I really enjoyed visiting this fascinating country. There were many new impressions and images. Japan is quite different to the other countries in Asia that I have visited so far. What I missed on the trip was a view from the inside. Although our tour... Show more
    Review collected by Exodus Travels

Dates & Availability

14 days
Ancient & Modern Japan
From Kyoto to Tokyo
No credit card fees

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

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  • Upcoming departures
  • May 2024
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Upcoming departures
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    5 May, 2024
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    18 May, 2024
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    22 Sep, 2024
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    12 Oct, 2024
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  • 1 Other Unavailable Departure
  • Sunday
    27 Oct, 2024
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    9 Nov, 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions

    • When and where does the tour end?

      The tour will end in the morning on the last day of the tour at Hotel Metropolitan Ikebukuro in Tokyo. Those on the group flights to London (additional cost) will be transferred to Tokyo Narita Airport in the evening, however, if you are not travelling on the group flight, you can take advantage of a free airport transfer by limousine bus to Narita or Haneda airport (only if staying at Hotel Metropolitan Ikebukuro). Please be aware the hotel is subject to change until your final documents are released.

    • When and where does the tour start?

      The first day of the tour generally starts from Noku Roxy Hotel (subject to change) in Kyoto and as the first day is just an arrivals day, you can arrive at any time. At approximately 5pm there is a Welcome Meeting which you can attend if you wish and you will meet your guide and fellow travellers.

    • What are the optional excursions?

      The optional excursions for this tour are:

      Obuse museum. Price: approx. GBP 5
      Gion Corner ‐ theatre show (Kyoto). Price: approx. GBP 23
      Zen gardens ‐ (Kyoto). Price: approx. GBP 2‐5 each
      Tea ceremony ‐ (Kyoto). Price: approx. GBP 35‐40
      Kabuki show. Price: GBP 7‐15

      Please note that this list is a guideline only and all prices are subject to change.

    • Can you assist with booking additional accommodation?

      Of course, we can! Once you have a confirmed booking on this tour, we can request additional accommodation for you with the tour operator.

    • What is the age range?

      This tour has an age range from 16 to 80+ years old. Unfortunately, this means that children under the age of 16 are not eligible to participate in this tour.

    • Is there a hotel list available?

      All accommodations are subject to change until 4-6 weeks before the departure date. After the booking is made you will be issued your final trip documents with your specific accommodation details. That being said, this is a list of accommodations that they typically stay at, but please be advised that they are subject to change:

      Kyoto: Noku Roxy
      Takayama: Murayama Ryokan or Muhyokan Ryokan
      Matsumoto: Kagetsu Hotel
      Nagano/Yudanaka: Yorozuya Yurakuan Annex
      Tokyo: Metropolitan Hotel Ikebukuro

    • Are the flights included?

      Flights before and after the tour finishes are not included in the tour price. However, if you are flying from the UK, Exodus can offer you a package that includes flights, if you are interested in this option please contact our customer support team for more information.

    • Do I need a visa?

      As a tour booking website, TourRadar cannot organise visas for you on your behalf as the visa requirements are regularly being updated and vary for the nationality of one traveller to the next. It is for this reason that we recommend checking with your local embassy or consulate website for the latest up to date information.

    • Do you arrange airport transfers?

      Airport transfers are included depending on your flight arrival/departure transfer and if you can meet the group transfer, please contact our customer support team for more information once your booking is confirmed.

    • I'm a solo traveller, is there a single supplement?

      If you are a solo traveller and you don't mind sharing you will be roomed with a fellow traveller of the same gender for no additional cost. If you would prefer your own private room this can be arranged for an additional cost, which you select on the booking page after you have clicked 'Book Now' on the departure you are interested in.

    Got a question about this tour?

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    Good to Know

    • Currency
      ¥
      Yen
      Japan
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B.

      Type A
      Japan
      Type B
      Japan
    • Vaccines
      • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
      • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
      • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Japan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before July 25th, 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after July 25th, 2024, a minimum payment of 25% is required to confirm your booking with Exodus Travels. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 90 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Exodus Travels will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Exodus Travels" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

    Videos

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    Japan: The Ultimate Travel Guide